11 Beauty Brands That Don’t Test on Animals

Every year, more than 115 million animals are used in laboratory experiments around the world, according to Humane Society International. Products such as cosmetics, household cleaners and pharmaceuticals are force-fed or injected into mice, rats and guinea pigs, as well as cats, dogs and monkeys. All of these tests have the potential to cause intense physical and psychological harm.

That’s why beauty blogger Suzi Scheler created crueltyfreekitty.com, a resource for fellow animal lovers “who don’t want to compromise their ethics for an eyeshadow palette,” she writes on the site’s About page. “No animal should suffer for our vanity,” says Scheler.

By supporting cruelty-free brands, she says, we can help put an end to animal testing.

“As consumers, our voices matter and we have the power to change practices we don’t agree with, such as animal testing,” she says. “Animals, on the other hand, don’t have a voice, which makes it even more important for us to try to help.”

Here are some of her favorite brands, as well as a few others that have been designated as cruelty free by PETA:

SheaMoisture

What started as a nut stall in a Sierra Leone village market has evolved into a body, skin and hair care line that’s all natural, organic and completely cruelty free.

“I especially love their body moisturizers, which are made with shea butter and other rich butters and oils,” says Scheler.

100% PURE

Scheler says 100% PURE uses ingredients like fruit pigments in their makeup instead of artificial or animal-based dyes. The brand uses no artificial colors or fragrances in their skin, hair and baby products and cosmetics and they don’t test on animals.

“We do all that we can to end the hurting and exploitation of animals,” says Susie Wang, co-founder of 100% PURE, including using their platform to help raise awareness about the plight of lab animals and help support nonprofits that fight animal cruelty.

Josie Maran Cosmetics

Made with fair-trade Argan oil that’s grown and harvested in Morocco by women-run co ops, Josie Maran’s skin, hair care products and makeup are good for people and animals, Scheler says. Their Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47 is one of Scheler’s favorite cruelty-free sunscreens and the brand’s Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter is also a crowd favorite for its ability to soften lines without being overly oily.

Obsessive Compulsive

Obsessive Compulsive is another brand Scheler recommends on her blog. Their makeup and nail color are cruelty free and vegan.

“From our inception, we pledged never to use animal-derived or animal-tested ingredients,” says Jack Hargreaves, art director at Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. “You need not necessarily be aligned with animal rights issues to reap the benefits of a vegan cosmetic line: animal ingredients can be amongst the most allergenic and prevent makeup from being considered Kosher, Halal or otherwise compliant with various regulations.”